Greenwich March against the cuts

Sorry this has taken so long (nearly three months in fact!) fighting the cuts is busy work and i just haven't had time to give this blog the attention it deserves. Any way report of the Demo in February follows.

On Saturday 12 February around 200 trade unionists, community campaigners and service users marched in Greenwich borough, south London, against the local council's brutal cuts package.

Paul Callanan, Greenwich Save Our Services

The march was called by Greenwich Save Our Services which was initiated by Socialist Party members. Banners and flags from local branches of Unite, PCS, NUT, NSSN, the Pensioners' Forum and Keep Our NHS Public were all present. The march grew as it went through Woolwich's busy high street.

Greenwich council has unveiled a cuts package that will 'save' £90 million over the next four years.The first wave, which will slash £30 million in one year, includes cuts to carer's allowances, parks and open spaces including the closure of a popular animal park in Charlton, the closure of advice centres for teenage mothers, and a 40% voluntary sector cut.

The Labour council has also handed out redundancy notices to all its workers. Workers are told to accept new contracts on worse terms and conditions or face losing their jobs.

At the rally, Mick Callanan, a Unite grounds maintenance steward and Socialist Party member, pointed to the student protests at the end of last year and said that "they showed the way in the fight against the cuts and now we should be good parents and join them". Onay Kasab, Unite 1563 branch chair, said that the march needed to be the "start of the movement in Greenwich against the cuts".